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February 14, 2008

The Van Horn card

With Devean George continuing to insist that he will
not approve a trade to New Jersey, the Mavericks’ only hopes of salvaging a
trade for Jason Kidd might rest with an unlikely source -- Keith Van Horn.

Van Horn has not played since the 2005-06 season but the
Mavericks have never renounced his rights. He has what is known as a "cap hold" status and can be signed to a contract to complete a Kidd deal.

It would be even better for the Nets than George. According to NBA salary cap rules, the Mavericks have to get within 25 percent plus $100,000 of Kidd's $19,728,000 contract.

That amount would be $15,800,000

Here are the Mavericks contracts on the players Dallas has offered rounded to the nearest $1,000.

So if the Mavericks signed Van Horn to a contract for $1,985,000, that would bring them to the total needed to trade for Kidd.

Sources say the Mavericks have yet to offer the option to the Nets and have been working hard today to try and convince George to waive his no trade clause. But for the Nets, having to pay the prorated share of Van Horn's $1,985,000 deal would not be that much different than the prorated portion of George's $2,360,000 deal. And it serves the same purpose to give the Nets a contract that expires after this season.

The unknown in this is New Jersey GM Rod Thorn, who is one of the toughest negotiators in the league. Again, however, it's hard to believe the two teams would be so close to a trade and not be able to work out a deal.